Page 226 of Phoenix's Fire

"Wanna learn?"

"Um...." She shook her head, confused. "Is it dangerous?"

"No." I waved that away. "I know this pool that's shallow enough to stand in. It's between here and our place, pretty private, and..." I turned, glancing at all the people who kept looking my way before leaning in to laugh with their friends. "Just more private," I finished.

So Ayla hopped off her chair, grabbed the bottle, and moved beside me. "Maybe I can pay for the drinks?" she asked hopefully.

I just shook my head. "Nope. Right now, the only thing I want is a friend." I gave her the best smile I could manage. "And maybe someone to be a little stupid with me?"

"If you'll show me how?" she offered.

"Deal," I said, sliding off my chair just as Ulris returned with a bag and something in it that clanked softly. "Thank you," I said before digging inside it to pull out the first bottle I could reach: apple wine.

"Have fun, you two!" Ulris said.

So I gallantly offered Ayla my arm. She giggled beautifully and took it. That was what made it possible for me to walk my ass out of my own cafe with my head up. Qavan's words still rang in the back of my mind, and I knew everyone in here had heard. No one wanted to date me. I was desperate. They'd all heard it, and my ego had just taken one hell of a shit-kicking.

The moment we were outside, I opened my bottle and took a drink. Beside me, Ayla matched me, even if her gulp was smaller. The best part was that when I turned us towards the tree line, she didn't seem worried at all.

"That," I said as we walked, "was mortifying."

"It's worse if they punish you," she told me. "Then you're lying on the ground while they yell, and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Mm, but I'm big enough to hit back," I reminded her.

She flashed me a smile. "I am too now."

"Yeah, you are," I agreed. "And I think you get me."

She took another drink. "What am I getting?"

I sighed, lifted my bottle, then sighed again. "Having people think we're something they can use for their own entertainment, never giving a shit how we feel about it."

"Is that what he did?" she asked as we left the road and headed up a trail into the woods. "Saveah said it was new."

"It'salwaysnew," I grumbled, shifting so I was leading the way. Then I shook my head. "Sorry. Don't mind me." And I reached back to offer my hand.

"No, I do mind," she said, grabbing my palm so I could lead her. "We're friends, and sometimes you just need to let it out. So talk, Rymar. Don't make me ask questions that embarrass both of us."

I laughed, unable to stop myself. "I'm sulking."

"You deserve it."

So I drank again. "I actually liked him. That's what sucks. Ilikedthis guy, and all he wanted was to get laid."

"Is that another phrase for sex?" she asked.

"Yep." I glanced back to see how she'd take that.

"But how?" She gave me the most innocent look. "I mean, the penis goes in the vagina. You don't have a vagina. Nor him." Then she sucked in a little breath. "Or are Dragons different?"

"No!" I said, struggling not to laugh. "Oh, Ayla. Fuck, you're adorable. Um, there are other places to stick things."

"Where?"

"Think about the holes you have down there."

"There's only three," she said. "Pee, poop, and babies."

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